European Football effected by winter weather

Over the last few weeks the winter weather has been effecting everyday life across Europe with especially western and central parts hit unusually hard so early in the winter season. And football is now being more and more effected across the continent with matches being called-off and postponed.

This weekend especially the English Premier League has been hit hard with yesterday's matches FC Arsenal vs. Stoke City, FC Liverpool vs. FC Fulham, Wigan Athletic vs. Aston Villa and Birmingham City vs. Newcastle United all called-off. Also today's much anticipated clash between defending champions FC Chelsea and league leaders Manchester United as we as the game between FC Blackpool and Tottenham Hotspur had to be postponed.

And more EPL matches could be effected in the coming weeks with the Premier League having no winter break like other European leagues plus between Boxing Day and the New Year the Premier League clubs have three matches to play. And with further postponements looks likely it could mean numerous additional match dates in the spring.

Germany has also been hit hard by the winter weather, but unlike in England so far no matches in the top division of the Bundesliga have been cancelled. This is due to the fact that the DFL (parent body of the Bundesliga) has tough criteria for clubs in regard to stadium infrastructure, approach roads and public transport access. E.g. a club can only play in the Bundesliga if their stadium has underground soil heating to keep the pitch playable in such snowy conditions. And such measures have helped in keeping the fixtures and schedules intact. Also the Bundesliga has a winter break with this weekend being the last round ahead of a month long break.

Also effected by the winter weather has been the Scottish leagues, but especially the amateur game across the continent has been hit hard. Many match venues are closed as are training grounds and if you are lucky then you have an indoor training facility closeby which you can use otherwise no matches or training.

But due to their usual harsh winters Russia and Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland) play their leagues from March to November to avoid matches being effected by snow and the big freeze. The other example is that of the Alpine countries of Switzerland and Austria who last weekend played their last match of the year and will only play again in February with a number of clubs having artificial turf grounds due to the winter weather in those countries, which makes it very difficult to main their grounds.

Maybe there is something here for the English Premier League to learn to avoid such washouts in future...